“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

At a cost of $1.9 trillion a year, the United States spends more on health care than any other industrialized nation. For many Washington workers and business owners, paying for health care is becoming increasingly difficult. Even large companies, such as Boeing, are being significantly affected. Between 2001 and 2004, Boeing’s health care expenses increased 30 percent to $1.7 billion.

While important steps have been taken to provide children and other vulnerable populations with health care in Washington, comprehensive remedies must be found that benefit all citizens and address issues such as affordability, access to care, and system inefficiencies.